Pittsburg fire reveals marijuana grow

Share this:

Contra Costa County fire crews responding to a two-alarm blaze discovered a marijuana growing operation inside the burned-out remains of a Pittsburg home early Friday morning, officials said.

Firefighters responded to reports of a roof on fire at 2610 Tampico Dr. just after 1 a.m. and found the attic and second story of a home engulfed in flames, said Contra Costa County Fire Marshal Lewis Broschard. A second alarm was called shortly after to bring in resources from surrounding agencies.

Crews were prevented from searching the residence for occupants as the roof collapsed shortly after their arrival, but firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading to neighboring homes.

The blaze was brought under control within two hours of the initial report and, upon entering the home, investigators discovered an illegal marijuana grow. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, authorities said, but illegal wiring is believed to have played a role. There were no injuries reported but the home, built in 2012 and worth about $400,000, was a total loss.

Fires caused by marijuana grows and hash oil labs have been a big problem in Contra Costa County, with at least a dozen reported in the last nine months. The fires can be especially dangerous due to the presence of illegal wiring, bars on windows and other modifications to homes that were never meant to act as greenhouses, Broschard said.